2023-Dec-12
IJC's Calls for Indigenous Peoples to be Active Partners in Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review Process
The International Joint Commission (IJC) has just released its 2023 Third Triennial Assessment of Progress on Great Lakes Water Quality, commonly known as the TAP Report. This report is a three-year review of the progress of government programs toward achieving the objectives of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). This year’s TAP Report made three main recommendations to the Canadian and US governments:
- Ensure that First Nations, Métis and Tribal governments are full, active partners in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement review process to better empower Indigenous engagement and leadership on Great Lakes water quality issues.
- Increase climate resiliency throughout the region by developing basin-wide goals, adopting accountable and transparent performance metrics and working to achieve them with local, regional, Indigenous and provincial governments, regional watershed authorities and other stakeholders.
- Proactively support and actively participate in the continued development of a 10-year Great Lakes Science Plan that includes the incorporation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and works toward managing, funding, governing and implementing a coordinated and comprehensive binational science initiative.
Everyone has a role in protecting the Great Lakes and this report emphasizes that Tribal, First Nations and Métis governments and organizations are a critical part of this stewardship.
The IJC formally released this report with a virtual event, which can be viewed online.
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